If you believe that the sport of snorkeling wasn’t “invented” until recently, you’re in for a surprise. The idea took root around 350 BC when philosopher Aristotle observed an elephant submerged in water that used its trunk to breathe. It’s a fanciful supposition and one that can’t be proven, but evidence exists that rudimentary helmets attached to reed tubes were common in the 15th century,…
If you’re currently emulating Santa Claus by making a list and checking it twice, you know that list-making is essential to getting things done. Paula Rizzo divided list-makers into three categories. Are you a Monkey? If so, you can’t function without lists. Squirrels are creative list-makers who are happy to use envelopes, receipts, and paper towels to keep tabs on tasks. Dolphins rely on productivity…
What do families look for when they consider taking their children abroad? We turned to experts at the Travel Channel for real-world advice offered by parents with youngsters of all ages. Some of the advice these moms and dads suggest may help you rethink your game plan if you’re planning an overseas family adventure. Did you know that frequent family travelers always find a way…
If you’ve ever booked a Caribbean vacation with friends—and agreed to let them do all the planning—you know that the likelihood that they’ll customize the itinerary to suit their tastes could leave you out in the cold. For that reason, take control of your upcoming holiday plans by personally designing a stay that includes your favorite activities, attractions, and entertainments. How to assure yourself of…
Scholars at Atlanta’s Georgia Tech University delved into a topic that few academic institutions have attempted: The origins of the term “going viral.” Their discovery, that going viral has been around for more than 120 years, came about as the result of access to databases covering more than 10 million newspaper pages. The first example? Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan’s 1896 Democratic National Convention speech….
How important are arts and music festivals? Georgia Southern University Masters candidate Kimberly F. Rudolph wrote her honors thesis on the topic. Art festivals, she discovered, are more than excuses to shop. They’re unifying, too! According to Rudolph’s research, art and music festivals are community-building events that bring like-minded people together, so even if our politics and opinions are diverse, when we share entertainment experiences,…
Are you a planner or are you the first person in your crowd to grab opportunities to be spontaneous? This personality trait has nothing to do with being rash or taking risks. Spontaneous people are fun to be around because they tend to be happier, more creative, flexible, adventurous, and they seem to handle stress more efficiently as a result. If you’re a spontaneous person—or…
Ever wonder why news reports of immigration surges from Central America always exclude Belize? The U.S. Center for Immigration Studies recently called this English-speaking nation the land “that creates few problems for the U.S.,” and it also speaks to a population that has no desire to live anywhere else in the hemisphere. Further, while Belize and neighboring nations enjoy similar, if not identical climates, that…
Do you take the sun for granted? There’s a reason winter vacations in the sun are so popular. You have fun, relax and the gifts you give your body are priceless. As days grow short and winter looms on the horizon, do you work hard to ignore signs that your body wants to hibernate? Of course it does; you’re entering a season that leaves the…
Beaches are supposed to be tranquil stretches of sand and surf conducive to relaxation and tranquility, but in Belize, a good-natured “battle of the beaches” has been underway since the nation became the trendiest destination in Central America. The contenders for this ongoing debate are Ambergris Caye, the small island known for its party scene, Caye Caulker — idyllic despite offering visitors less beach to…